The Islanders have lost two in a row following a three-game winning streak.

"We just weren't very sharp and they were able to generate a lot of offense over our own mistakes," Islanders coach Scott Gordon said.

Moen was given a boarding minor for his hit from behind, which sent Wisniewski crashing head-first into the boards 8:43 into the second.

"I really didn't think I hit him that hard," Moen said.

Wisniewski, who said he wasn't hurt on the play, was upset about the hit.

"That kind of stuff, you paralyze guys. There's no room in hockey for that," Wisniewski said. "I know him pretty well. I played with [Moen] and he said sorry later on, but really there's no excuse for that. I'm in a defenseless position and you take advantage of it four feet from the boards.

"A minor penalty? They talk about head hits, I mean, you get a concussion so you're out three weeks -- you're paralyzed the rest of your life. So that's just the kind of stuff that boggles my mind that they don't crack down on stuff like that," he said.

New York's Zenon Konopka fought with Moen when the two crossed paths immediately after the Canadiens forward stepped out of the penalty box.

"He was just sticking up for a teammate," Moen said.

Moen, Konopka and Islanders rookie Nino Niederreiter were involved in trash talk between the two teams during the pregame warmup.

Mike Cammalleri sat out Montreal's season opener while serving a one-game suspension for his slash on Niederreiter during a preseason game in Quebec City.

"I wasn't at that game but that's kind of a vicious thing to do," Wisniewski said.

Niederreiter, chosen fifth overall in the June draft, has one goal and one assist in nine games. The Islanders now have to decide whether to keep him or return him to his junior team for the rest of the season.

"The game had nothing to do with our decision on Nino," Gordon said. "We haven't made it yet and he wasn't going to make or not make our team based on this game."

Halpern assisted on Darche's goal 13:19 in and gave Montreal its third two-goal lead at 4-2 with his third goal of the season 6:56 into the third.

Plekanec set up Moen's short-handed goal later in the first that put the Canadiens up 2-0. He slapped a shot from the slot into the top left corner for his fourth goal 7:33 into the second.

Wisniewski also pulled the Islanders within one at 2-1 when he scored with the man advantage late in the first.

Tavares tipped Wisniewski's point shot past Price on a power play 13 seconds into the third to draw New York to 3-2.

Roloson stopped Pouliot on a penalty shot at 7:11 of the third to exact a measure of revenge on the Montreal left wing. The goalie was upset after Pouliot went crashing into him when he was hooked down by Radek Martinek on a breakaway.

Game notes

Islanders left winger Matt Martin, recalled from AHL Bridgeport on Monday, made his season debut. He had two assists in five games last season. ... Price had an assist on Halpern's goal. ... Defenseman Ryan O'Byrne and left winger Dustin Boyd weren't in uniform for Montreal.